Liquid-sprinkler.



A. N. MACNICOL.

LIQUID SPRINKLER. APPLICATION FILED 05c. 28. NH.

1 372,070. Patented July 9, 1918.

LIQUID-SPRINKLER.

Application filed December 28, 1917.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, ARNoLo NESBITT MACNICOL, a citizen of the Commonwealth of Australia, and resident of Melbourne, in the State of Victoria and said Commonwealth, (whosev post-office address is 31 Queen street, Melbourne aforesaid,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liq-uidSprinklers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in liquid sprinklers and has been specially devised in order to-increase the utility thereof.

Most rotating sprinklers at present in use are open to the objection that only circular areas can be sprinkled with the liquid.

The object of this invention is to improve the structure and operation of liquid sprinklers adapted to cover an area having a shape other than circular.

An essential feature of the invention consists in the addition to the usual rotating sprinkler tube or pipe of one, two or more valves spaced from each other at each end of the pipe and so adjusted and controlled that when the pipes reach the position in which it is desired to extend the area to be sprinkled beyond the circle, the valves are opened varying degrees according to the shape of the area it is desired to sprinkle.

A further essential feature consists in the particular construction of the valves or sprinkler devices, and furthermore, in the means for their operation, the valves being opened or closed at predetermined times in Order that the portlons varying from the central. circle are sprinkled simultaneously with the central portion which is sprinkled in the usualway by nozzles formed on the pipes between the central supporting pillar and the valves.

A further essential feature embodied in the invention consists in watering plots or figures varying from .a circle by means of a stream of water working in a vertical plane, the stream being varied by the automatic operation of the valve or valves embodied in the invention.

order that the invention may be more Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Serial No. 209,270.

readily understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a view in elevation of one form of improved rotating sprinkler embodied in the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of one portion of the valve operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation illustrating essential features of the valve op erating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the approximate cam development embodied in the invention which controls the opening of the sprinkler valves when watering a square.

Figs. 5 and 6 are views in sectional elevation and plan respectively of a modified construction of cam way.

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a modification.

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation illustrating a further modification.

Fig. 9 is an elevation illustrating more particularly and in section the valves embodied in the invention.

Fig. 10 is a view in elevationand Fig. 11 is a view inplan of the valve mechanism. Fig. 12 is a view illustrating a modification.

According to this invention the usual standard 1 carries at its upper end one or more rotating tubes or pipes 2 of the required length extending radially from the said support and on either side thereof. In Fig. l I have illustrated a two-arm radial sprinkler tube 2 which is preferably mounted in ball bearings :2 and is formed with the usual spraying nozzles 3.

The tube 2 is supported by the stays 3 and is fitted on the respective outer end portions with one or more valves or spraying devices 4 adapted to spray the area beyond the central circle of a figure upon the rotating of the sprinkler tube 2.

These valves or sprinkler devices 4 consist each of an outer rotating sleeve or tube 7 and an inner fixed body 8, the sleeve 7 being held in place by a washer 9 and screw 10, or by other suitable means.

The axes of the valves are preferably placed parallel to the plane of rotation and at right angles to the pipe or tube 2 carrying the sprays, but, if desired, they may be placed vertical and at right angles to the plane of rotation and the pipe, and when thus placed they aid in the rotation of the device.

An opening 11 is formed in the body 8 of the valve 4 starting at the bottom and extending outward for one quarter of the circumference of the body or more as required. This opening is smaller at the bottom 12 and increases in width as it extends upward as at 13 so that a larger amount of water is thrown as the distance becomes more remote from the center of the sprinkler. V V

The sleeve 7 of each valve 4 is cut away at 14 sufficiently to allow the full opening 11 in the body 8 of the valve 4 to be uncovered. In the event of two or more valves being used as illustrated, the sleeve 7 of the inner valve 4 may be still further cut away as at 14 to allow of further movement without closing the opening 11, while if desired, the sleeve may be cut away to allow of two or more openings.

It will be obvious that the valves 4 may be set either vertical or horizontal to the plane of rotation, but I desire it to be understood that where it is desired to propel the sprinkler by means of the jet issuing from the valves, the latter are set vertical to the plane of rotation, the valves being operable in the manner above described. This arrangement also allows of the areabeing sprinkled evenly from the center to the out side thereof, the thickness of the horizontal sheet of spray being determined by the size of the valve opening.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the sleeves 7 are fitted with teeth 23 on the periphery and are geared to a rack or quadrant 24 pivoted at or about the center to a support or bracket 30 on the tube 2 and fitted with a weight 31 to facilitate the return of the sleeve 7 to normal position after the opening of the valve. The lower end of each quadrant arm 32 is connected by a wire rope link 33 with a T lever 34 pivoted at its center to a bracket 35 on the tube 2. All of the quadrant arms on one side of the standard 1 are thus connected with one end of the lever 34, while t the opposite end of said lever are connected the quadrant arms on the other side of said standard.

The central leg 36 of the T lever is pivotally connected to the upper end of a vertical rod 37 working in guides formed on the bracket 38 fitted to the tube 2 and this rod at its lower end is fitted with a forked bearing 39 for a roller 21 Working on the cam pathway 22 fitted to the fixed standard 1.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 5

and 6 a horizontal cam pathway 40 is provided consisting of a groove formed in the plate 41 fitted to the standard 1 over which the tube2 operates it being understood that the roller or rollers operating the arms controlling the valves 4 are adapted to move within the said groove.

In the modification illustrated in Fig.7 7

In the construction illustrated in Figs.

8, 9 and 11, the outer members or sleeves 7, 7*, of the valves 4, 4*, are formed with extensions or arms 15, each having a slotted connection at 15 with a downwardly extending arm 16 of a rod or lever 17 extending toward the center of the tube and connected with a reciprocating rod 37 slidable in a bracket 38 on the sprinkler tube 2, the

lower end of the rod 37 being formed with a roller 21 or a groove working in a circularly arranged cam pathway 22 fitted to the sprinklersupport limmediately below;

the rotating sprinkler tube 2. The lever arm 17 is adjustably arranged on the, rod 37 to adjust the throw of the said lever, consequently regulating the opening of th valves 4, 4 p 1 Between the outer sprinkling members or valves 4, 4 the connecting rod 17 may be cranked or bent as at 26 forming a path for a roller 27 fitted to a bracket 28 secured to the sprinkler arm 2 to facilitate the lifting and movement of the lever 17 at the outer end in the operation of the valves. This arrangement is only necessary when it is desired to lift the lever 17 01f the center when the maximum stroke is being used.

As illustrated in Fig. 12 the sleeve 7 may be fixed and the body 3 may be rotatable therein and fitted with the connecting arm 15, the said body secured against separation from the sleeve by a bracket 15, the body being operated in the manner above described. r e

In operation the water pressure causes the usual rotating of the sprinkler tube 2 and the movement of the roller or guide 21 working in the cam pathway 22'raises and lowers the rod 37 or the bell crank 45 operating the quadrants 24 (Fig. 1) or the lever derstood.

17 (Fig. 8) or the rod 44: (Fig. 7), thereby operating the valves 4, 4* at the ends of the sprinkler tube 2.

Upon each completed movement each of the valves 4, 4 is opened and closed, the mechanism being so arranged that the opening and closing takes place at any desired position and for such time as may be required.

The inner valves P having a larger area to sprinkle are opened first and closed last, the length of the orifice 14 in the sleeve 7 being larger than the orifice 14 in the sleeve 7 of the outer valve l owing to the fact that the smaller area is sprayed by the outer valve members as will be readily un- The cams 22 and 40 hereinbefore described are more particularly designed for spraying square areas but it will be understood that if the contour of such cams be altered the shape of the area to be watered will be varied accordingly. so that by suitably selecting the shape of the cam to be used in conjunction with the device embodying this invention it may be possible to spray areas having very different shapes.

I also wish it to be understood that various changes may be made in the specific structure and arrangement of the sprinklers hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim 1. In a rotary sprinkler, the combination with a fixed standard and a sprinkler tube mounted thereon for rotation about said standard, of a nozzle on said tube having a spray opening, a valve adapted to vary the width of said opening, and automatically operating means carried by'said standard and tube for positively controlling the movements of said valve, thereby determining the reach of the spray, at each point of its rotation about said standard.

2. In a rotary sprinkler, the combination with a fixed standard and a sprinkler tube mounted thereon for rotation about said standard, of a nozzle on said tube, a valve for controlling the flow of water from said nozzle, said valve comprising an inner fixed cylindrical body having a lateral opening extending over about one quarter of its circumference and an outer rotating sleeve having a portion cut away to allow the full opening of said valve body to be uncovered, and automatically operating means carried by said standard and tube for positively controlling the movements of said sleeve, thereby determining the reach of the spray at each point of the rotation of said valve about said standard.

3. In a rotary sprinkler, the combination with a fixed standard and asprinkler tube mounted thereon for rotation about the standard, of nozzles on said tube, one of said nozzles being at one outer end of said tube and another of said nozzles on an intermediate portion thereof, a valve forcontrolling the flow of water from each nozzle, each valve comprising an inner fixed cylindrical body having a'lateral opening extending over about one quarter of its circumference and an outer rotating sleeve having a portion cut away to allow the full opening of the said valve body to be uncovered, the portion cut away from the sleeve pertaining to the intermediate nozzle being larger than the portion cut away from the sleeve pertaining to the end nozzle to cause the former nozzle to open before and close after the latter nozzle, and automatically operating means carried by said standard and tube for positively and permanently controlling the movements of said sleeves.

4. In a rotary sprinkler, the combination with a fixed standard and a sprinkler tube mounted thereon for rotation about the standard, of a nozzle on said tube having a spray opening, a valve adapted to vary the width of said opening, a cam fitted to said standard having a contour corresponding to the shape of the area to be watered, and means carried by said tube permanently ongaging said cam and valve, said means being actuated by said cam to control the movements of said valve.

5. In a rotary sprinkler, the combination with a fixed standard and a sprinkler tube mounted thereon for rotation about the standard, of nozzles on said tube, avalve for controlling the flow of water from each nozzle, a cam fitted to said standard having a contour corresponding to the shape of the area to be watered, and means carried by said tube permanently engaging said cam and valves, said means being actuated by said cam to control simultaneously the movement of all of said valves, said valves being so proportioned that they will open and close in a predetermined sequence.

6. In a rotary sprinkler, the combination with a fixed standard and a sprinkler tube mounted thereon for rotation about the standard, of nozzles on said tube, a valve for controlling the flow of water from each nozzle, each valve comprising an inner fixed cylindrical body having a lateral opening extending over about one quarter of its circumference and an outer rotating sleeve having a portion cut away to allow the full opening of said valve body to be uncovered, teeth gearings on said sleeves, weighted quadrants pivotally connected with said tube, said quadrants being in mesh with said teeth gearings, a vertical cam fitted to said standard having a contour corresponding to said Commonwealth of Australia, this the shape of tale zluzleabto be Watered, a rec-1 twelfth day of November, 1917. ci rocatin' r0 si 2, 1y mounted on sai i 1151 38 and provided With a roller engaging ARNOLD NEbBITT MACNIQOL" 5 said cam, and a system of levers operatively Witnesses:

connected with said rod and said quadrants. STEPHEN AHERN, Signed at Sydney, New South Wales and WM. NEWBORN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, .D. G. 

